Animated Characters: Sequence 2 – My New York Times Part 1
Animator, director, character designer, teacher, and writer Nancy Beiman shares her introduction to 'commercial' animation, when she snagged her first job, at Jack Zander’s Animation Parlour in NYC, while still managing to graduate Cal Arts, in the second of an ongoing series of articles - and eventual blog - she’s penning for AWN.
‘Sonic Prime’: Same Sega Flair with Some Redemptive Introspection
Sonic returns with a brand-new ‘universe-shattering’ 3DCG series, where after a run-in with Dr. Eggman, the Blue Blur must race to save more than just the friends he’s taken for granted; now streaming on Netflix.
Chaos Releases V-Ray 6 for Houdini
Featuring full support for Houdini 19.5 and Solaris and new creativity enhancers, render boosts, better shading, and increased function in V-Ray Frame Buffer, the new release helps users create quality renders at any stage of the process.
Foundry Releases Katana 6.0
Release aligns with December updates of Nuke 14.0 and Mari 6.0 on software standards, including VFX Reference Platform 2022 and USD 22.05, while making it easier and more efficient for artists to use.
Prime Video Releases ‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ Season 2 Trailer
A 12-episode sophomore season of the highly anticipated adult animated fantasy-adventure series, based on stories and characters developed by Critical Role, hits the streamer in January.
A Quick Overview of Uri Lotan’s ‘Black Slide’ Short
In this Oscar- qualified film, courage against terrifying odds at the water park can mean much more than becoming a hero to your friends.
Podcast EP 189: Eliott Deshusses' Stop-Motion Journey in Germany
The stop-motion animator discusses industry job opportunities in Germany, how he got a rep and shares a behind-the-scenes look at his grad film.
Crunchyroll Reveals Categories for 7th Annual Anime Awards
14 categories have been set for the live ceremony in Tokyo coming March 4, 2023, with an additional 9 categories set for the virtual ceremony.
Project Submissions Open: Animation Production Days 2023
A joint venture of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film and FMX, ADP runs April 25-28; deadline for submission of projects in film, TV series, mobile content, games, cross- and transmedia is February 9.
Disney+ Drops ‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder – Guest Cast’ Featurette
Season 2 of the popular animated series, based on the Disney Original ‘The Proud Family,’ debuts on the streamer in February.
Loundraw’s ‘Summer Ghost’: An Intense Journey of Self Discovery
In his animation directorial debut, the manga illustrator and character designer on anime like ‘I Want to Eat Your Pancreas’ and ‘I Fall in Love With You Through a Robot’ explores the mystery and fragility of life and death through the story of three troubled teenagers who summon a spirit that can answer any question.
DreamWorks Drops ‘Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight’ Season 2 Trailer
Jack Black and Rita Ora return as Po and Wandering Blade, who, along with their motley crew of warriors, embark on new adventures, facing danger at every turn; the all-new 12-episode season comes to Netflix next month.
Exclusive: LAIKA and Bowie State University Celebrate Stop-Motion Studio Opening
The award-winning ‘Coraline’ and ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ studio’s head of animation, Brad Schiff, was on hand for the launch of the first stop-motion studio at a historically Black college and university (HBCU), as well as first at an institution of higher learning in the state of Maryland.
Epic MegaGrants Shares Latest Recipients and 2022 Recap
New film and TV recipients include animated shorts - Bit Film’s ‘Little Bird,’ Westworld’s ‘The Silent Sea,’ and Chromosphere’s ‘Mall Stories;’ since its inception 4 years ago, 1,800 recipients across 6 continents have been awarded grants.
Annecy Festival Goes Big for 2023
Wait… we get to spend another day by the lake you say? This year’s event will kick off a day earlier, on Sunday, June 11, for 7 full days dedicated to the art of animation; Guillermo del Toro announced this year’s spotlight on Mexican Animation.
Escape Studios Launches Undergrad Tech Programs
Students will be taught technical skills needed for in-demand jobs to meet the industry’s growing demand in virtual reality, interactive entertainment, and virtual production environments; applications now open for Fall 2023.
Jeff Bezos and Michael Strahan Team Up on New Animated Series
STEAM-based ‘Blue Origin Space Rangers’ adventures heads into development; will inspire kids to explore the universe, science, and new worlds to benefit Earth.
Foundry Releases Mari 6.0
Latest update offers USD improvements, expands and builds on the painting toolset, and introduces simplified execution of Python Scripts; enhancements aim to improve artist workflows and efficiency.
Disney+ Sets Streaming Debut Date, Tweets ‘Strange World’ Special Look
Set to hit the streamer in time for Christmas, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original animated feature transports viewers to uncharted, treacherous lands alongside three generations of the Clades, a legendary family of explorers.
Nickelodeon Drops ‘SpongeBob SquarePants Presents The Tidal Zone’ Trailer and Art
Get ready for a multidimensional adventure – a tale of comedy and caution, satire and stupidity in the first ‘SpongeBob Universe’ crossover special coming in January.
‘La Calesita’: A Touching Homage to Merry-Go-Round Operators
Augusto Schillaci’s 3DCG short, a passion project nine years in the making, tells the story of a beloved Calesitero, whose selfless work over decades at a small-town carousel in Argentina impacted the lives of people he touched in untold ways over untold years.
‘The Amazing Maurice’ Debuts December 16 in the U.K.
Inspired by the award-winning novel by the late Sir Terry Pratchett, the animated feature tells the story of a talking cat who teams up with a clan of ‘educated rodents;’ making its U.S. premiere as a 2023 Sundance Film Festival selection in January, the film roles out theatrically across North America in February.
Miles Morales Gets Catapulted Across the Multiverse in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Teaser
In a sea of Spideys, who are the good guys? Our hero is growing up quickly… and it looks like none too soon.
‘Airborne’ Projects Hope and Rebirth in a Surreal World of Living, Flying Machines
Andrzej Jobczyk’s 7-minute 2D animated short, produced by the Warsaw-based studio, Letko, tells a compelling story of passion and the power of nature amidst the destructive forces of war.
Children’s & Family Emmy Award Winners Announced
‘Maya and the Three,’ ‘Hilda and the Mountain King,’ ‘Centaurworld,’ and ‘City of Ghosts’ each take home multiple awards in NATAS’ brand-new, expanded standalone ceremony held over two nights this past weekend.
